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Hi Folks,

Good Wednesday to you. Hope you're having a great week - lots of good stuff going on here. We've got some more Player Spotlights for you plus the news and notes you need so let's get to it.

San Diego Chargers RB Ryan Mathews (undisclosed) was involved in a car accident Tuesday, July 31, that may cause him to miss practice. He was 'just a little shaken up,' but the team isn't releasing any more details. He was taken to the hospital while complaining of pain, but no other injuries were reported. Police officers said drugs and alcohol did not appear to play a part.

Locker would immediately become a high upside fantasy backup quarterback, worthy of a spot in a QBBC. He should flourish in Chris Palmer's offense, and he has great running ability and a big play mentality.

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Isaac Redman enters the season as the team's No. 1 running back on the depth chart. 'It's just crazy how time changes,' Redman said, remembering back to his rookie year when he almost failed his conditioning test with the team. 'I'm here coming in as No. 1 on the depth chart. I feel like a totally different player, I feel like a professional. I'm taking on a leadership role in the running back room, guys are looking up to me,' Redman said.

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Things move fast. Redman is the darling among many fantasy owners this summer as he moves up the draft lists.

Washington Redskins RB Evan Royster is trying to take over the team's No. 1 running back duties. To win the starting job, he has to outperform RBs Roy Helu and Tim Hightower. 'We're all trying to do that. So it's going to be tough,' Royster said. 'You can't tackle him,' head coach Mike Shanahan said about Royster. 'He makes people miss. He knows how to cut and he knows when to cut.' Royster said he feels comfortable in the offense. He did note that the one thing he wants to improve on is his conditioning, as he felt he wasn't as prepared physically as he needed to be last season.

Roy Helu has stood out early in training camp. He has a better burst than the team's other backs competing for the starting running back duties.

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Royster is going after the 15th round in drafts, but that will change after this quote from Shanahan. The Redskins running game will be productive, even though it will be hard to handicap. Royster is a no brainer pick if he continues to fall into the late part of fantasy drafts.

As for Helu, burst is not what will keep Helu from assuming the lead back role. He needs to stay healthy and inspire Mike Shanahan's trust for that to happen. His upside as the lead back and the overall upside of the running game justifies a pick in the seventh round of Helu in a tough year at running back. Even if he only gets 12-15 carries a game, that could be enough to have RB2 value with Robert Griffin III occupying the mind of defensive coordinators.

Denver Broncos rookie RB Ronnie Hillman has seen action in training camp on passing-downs. He has shown the necessary speed during practice to quickly get to the corner. Hillman's snaps have come in rotation with RBs Lance Ball and Jeremiah Johnson, which follows starting RB Willis McGahee in drills. Hillman projects to be the team's change-of-pace back behind McGahee.

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Hillman fits better in a Peyton Manning-led offense than Willis McGahee. He has the foot speed to run the stretch play and he's a better receiver out of the backfield than McGahee. He might take some time to win over John Fox, who tends to favor veterans, but Hillman is a perfect late-round running back to put on your bench for the first month or two of the season while his role and game grow.

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he's 'a little bit surprised' and 'a little bit disappointed' that RB Jahvid Best (concussion) has not been cleared for contact nine months following his last concussion. Best is symptom-free and has been working out since December. The team isn't in a rush to make a move to fortify the running back corps in case Best can't play. RBs Kevin Smith and Stefan Logan have taken most of the repetitions in training camp so far with RB Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) dealing with a hamstring injury.

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Our Jene Bramel clarified the situation - no one really knows when Best will get cleared to play. He's not worth taking in the first 10 rounds right now. Both Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith are moving up our draft boards.

New England Patriots WR Brandon Lloyd has had a strong start to training camp with the Patriots. Lloyd and QB Tom Brady look like they have been playing together for a decade, as they have routinely been hooking up on long pass plays.

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Lloyd has top 10 upside playing with the best quarterback of his career. Remember, he was the number one wide receiver in fantasy football in 2010 with Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow as his quarterbacks. He's a steal at his current fifth round ADP.

New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle) has looked a little rusty at the start of training camp and he acknowledged as much. He dropped a couple of passes he would typically catch during workouts Sunday, July 29. Gronkowski is returning from offseason ankle surgery.

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That it is newsworthy when Gronkowski drops a pass in practice shows you just how dominant he is.

New England Patriots RB Stevan Ridley continues to look like the back most likely to handle the majority of the running back workload. RB Shane Vereen, also a second-year back, is still trying to work his way into a groove. Veteran Danny Woodhead appears as if he will continue to be the team's change-of-pace back.

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Ridley's ADP is sure to rise as he appears to be first in line to assume Benjarvus Green-Ellis's role. He could easily get 1000 yards and 10 TDs if he doesn't end up back in the doghouse because of ball security. He's worth a pick in the 8th or 9th round.

Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch has yet to speak to the media about his pending DUI charge. It's uncertain if he will face discipline from the National Football League.

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The best bet is that Roger Goodell won't hand down a punishment until the case is settled, which means probably not this season. If he was going to hand down a large suspension, it would be important to let the Seahawks know in time for them to make appropriate roster moves. Lynch is falling into the third and even fourth round, which looks like value as long as you're not too risk-averse.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Monday, July 30, that he has a timetable in his head as to when he will announce the team's starting quarterback. QBs Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson and Russell Wilson are each jockeying for position on the depth chart.

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We have to think it'll be after the "dress rehearsal" third preseason game. Carroll needs to give each quarterback a good amount of first-team reps in practice and in game action to fairly pick a winner.

Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson took snaps with the first-team offense Monday, July 30, the first day the team was in pads. He is still working on perfecting the timing and rhythm that comes with the speed of the NFL game. 'No matter what the situation was, I was going to come in and compete,' Wilson said. He is locked in a three-way battle with QBs Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson.

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This is a three-way quarterback battle that could down to the wire - or at least the all-important third preseason game. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll has insisted that Wilson is truly in the competition, and we believe him. If Wilson can win the job, he might be worth carrying as a backup fantasy quarterback because of his athleticism and knack for the big play. Sidney Rice would also get a bump in that event.

New York Jets WR Santonio Holmes said he was the 'scapegoat' for the team's frustrating season last year. 'It was the end, it was playoffs on the line, and your best receiver doesn't get but two passes thrown his way in 60 minutes of football,' Holmes said in an interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM.

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Holmes should just stop talking to the media. His ADP is in the 9th round, but that's still too high to take this player surrounded by black clouds.

Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning has consistently looked sharp during training camp. He is showing off his knowledge of the team's playbook, often getting people lined up properly and checking into a different play at times during team drills.

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Manning won't get the chance to put up quite as lofty numbers as he did with the Colts, but he's a fine quarterback if you can get him at QB10 or later and back him up with a high upside QB2 like Ben Roethlisberger just in case he is rusty coming off of a year layoff and breaking in new receivers.

Denver Broncos rookie QB Brock Osweiler has been working as the team's No. 2 quarterback during training camp. Osweiler has demonstrated plenty of arm strength to go along with quality mobility and footwork.

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Osweiler is well on his way to being the team's backup quarterback. He's worth stashing away in deep dynasty leagues as the heir to Peyton Manning.

Denver Broncos RB Lance Ball has been given plenty of reps with the first-string offense during the first five days of training camp.

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Ronnie Hillman will have to overcome head coach John Fox's famous bias against rookies. Ball is a solid all-around back who should stick on the team as a third stringer, but Hillman's young legs will move him up the depth chart as soon as he improves in pass protection.

Hernandez could benefit from the addition of Brandon Lloyd because he is that much more likely to be the player that defenses leave in a one-on-one matchup. He is a solid pick as your tight end if he falls to the late fifth round.

Edwards has a real chance to make the team with only Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, and Golden Tate assured of roster spots at wide receiver, but that doesn't mean he'd be relevant in fantasy leagues. We admire Pete Carroll's willingness to give players like Edwards, Mike Williams, and Antonio Bryant a shot when the rest of the league has moved on from them.

Atlanta Falcons RB Antone Smith, who came out of Florida State with 4.3 40-yard speed, is expected to get a look on punt and kick returns during training camp and the preseason. 'Antone is an interesting dynamic for us on special teams, because he's such a good cover guy, he's such a good blocker, but he's also got the speed to be a returner,' head coach Mike Smith said Monday, July 30. On offense, Smith is competing for the No. 4 running back job.

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Smith could hang on the roster as a fourth-team running back by showing his return abilities. If offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter carves out a Darren Sproles role for Jacquizz Rodgers, Smith could be the logical backup for the job.

Atlanta Falcons WR Kerry Meier (knee) has been turning heads early in training camp, and he appears to have a leg up for the No. 4 receiver job. He still must be a factor on special teams if he wants to secure a roster spot. 'Kerry's done a great job, he really has,' QB Matt Ryan said Monday, July 30. 'I think last year coming off the knee injury, he came back in and did a good (job) and played in some spot roles for us. I think this year his confidence is back in his leg.'

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Meier is a former quarterback and he would probably be on the same page with Matt Ryan if an injury pushed him into the starting lineup. He's worth an add in deep dynasty leagues.

Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon has rocketed up the depth chart even though he has been with the team less than three weeks. Gordon practiced with the first-team offense Monday, July 30. 'He's got a long way to go in terms of learning (the offense) and playing receiver at this level,' head coach Pat Shurmur said. 'He's made great progress to this point, but he's got a long way to go.'

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The Browns aren't wasting any time with their 2013 second-round pick, but it's not like he has stiff competition to start opposite Greg Little. He's worth a last-round flyer, but the year layoff from football will probably keep Gordon from having a big impact this year. His speed will help open up room underneath for Greg Little.